Bodega Miguel Merino — Attraction in Briones

By far the best wine we tasted in La Rioja. Many Yelp reviews start out the same way, but not from a person who tasted wine at 23 Bodegas in the Rioja Alta and Alavesa DOC. Having now tasted wine at over 225 wineries around the world, I can say that the three red wines we tasted here are spectacular representations of Tempranillo. All were showing great fruit, perfumed nose and rich color.

We tasted a beautiful white wine that Miguel makes in limited quantities and not every year.

We tasted 3 reds: 2012 Reserva, 2012 Gran Reserva and the 2015 Vina Jovenes. The price range was between 10 - 14 Euros. Wines of this quality at these price points have made the region wildly popular, spoiled the Europeans and simultaneously frustrated the US market with the high cost of shipping/distribution and marketing.

Our tasting was hosted by Miguel himself. His son Miguel, daughter-in-law, Erika joined in along with 8 friends who were from Spain. We were especially happy for Miguel and his new grandchild.

If you have limited time in La Rioja, visit Miguel. Going anywhere else could be a huge disappointment and a large waste of your time. Contact him before your visit to make sure someone is there for your tasting. We found him very responsive on email. His Bodega is right outside the walls of the medieval village of Briones.

We wished Miguel and long and happy life in his new role as grandfather.

The USA source for Bodegas Miguel Merino is K&L Wine Merchants. They have various locations. The representative is Shaun Green in the Redwood...

I'd love to say this was a less than excellent experience so that this gem won't be over-run by the time I manage to get back to Spain but the truth is the whole experience was a delight! Miguel himself started our tour; endearing personal stories mixed with fascinating secrets of wine production. He handed us off to Erika who was also delightful. The whole family's love and devotion to making superb wines came through in the stories of the tour (worth every penny). The 200 yo building they renovated was worth the tour fee and then you get the stories on top. And the wine was by far the best we tasted in the entire region. Thank you...

We had an absolutely unforgettable experience at Bodega Miguel Merino! The wines were nothing short of incredible, each sip bursting with the passion and meticulous care poured into their craft. You can truly taste the dedication in every bottle. Our guide, Lorena, was a highlight of the visit—her deep knowledge, warm hospitality, and infectious enthusiasm for the winery made the tour exceptional. The tight-knit community at Miguel Merino welcomed us with open arms, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere that felt like being part of their family. I can’t recommend this winery enough for anyone seeking world-class wines and a...